Kangaroo Express Supports Troops and Their Families with ‘Salute Our Troops’ Campaign

CARY, N.C.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The Pantry, Inc. (Nasdaq: PTRY), the leading independently operated convenience store chain in the southeastern United States, today announced the “Salute Our Troops” campaign inviting customers in more than 1,600 Kangaroo Express convenience stores across 13 states to demonstrate united support for military personnel and their families.

“We are proud to join Kangaroo Express in the shared mission to show support for our troops”

From Memorial Day to Labor Day, Kangaroo Express, along with Salute Our Troops presenting sponsor PepsiCo, will invite store guests to make donations toward its $1 million fundraising goal. Funds will support the USO, celebrating 70 years of delivering programs, entertainment and other services to the military; Wounded Warrior Project, honoring and empowering injured servicemen and women; and National Guard family assistance programs in five states.

“This summer’s Salute Our Troops is an ideal campaign for the communities we serve to join us in support of the men and women who serve our country,” said John Fisher, senior vice president of The Pantry. “None of us can thank our military enough for the work and sacrifices required to protect our nation and preserve our freedom, but we will never stop trying. We are joining our partners for 100 days of summer to show our united appreciation as we raise money for military charities.”

The Salute Our Troops Jeep Tour will travel throughout the southeastern United States, honoring local military heroes and families along the route.

“Kangaroo Express and USO have something in common: we both like to offer service with a smile. We’re especially thankful to our friends at The Pantry for creating this summer-long campaign to support our service members and their families,” said Sloan Gibson, USO president.

Wounded Warrior Project mission is to honor and empower wounded warriors. “The Salute Our Troops campaign will help us raise awareness and support from communities throughout the Southeast all summer, and we appreciate the support from Kangaroo Express and all the companies involved to help wounded service members and their families who all have made great personal sacrifices,” said Adam Silva, chief development officer for Wounded Warrior Project.

Store guests will be encouraged to support the program with $1 donations. Customers will add their own voice of gratitude with “shout outs” of pride and appreciation by posting photos and videos on the Kangaroo Express Facebook page. Many will be showcased on the Salute Our Troops website at www.KESalute.com.

“We are proud to join Kangaroo Express in the shared mission to show support for our troops,” said Liam Fuller, vice president of marketing for The Pepsi Beverages Company. “This campaign will help many people demonstrate their pride for our service men and women, and it is a great articulation of Performance with Purpose - PepsiCo's commitment to sustainable growth by investing in a healthier future for people and our planet, and respecting, supporting and investing in the local communities where we work, live and operate.”

Among the other brands and companies supporting the Salute Our Troops campaign are Monster, Kronik, Oh Yeah!, Celsius, Activate, McLane, Real Tree, Red Bull, Lance, SNAPPLE, General Mills, KRAFT, Jackson Lewis, Lala, Nestle Waters, Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina, Wilbur-Curtis, ECOLAB, Gilbarco, Jones-Frank, GSP Marketing Technologies and Lonesource.

About The Pantry and Kangaroo Express

Headquartered in Cary, North Carolina, The Pantry, Inc. is the leading independently operated convenience store chain in the southeastern United States and one of the largest independently operated convenience store chains in the country. As of May 9, 2011, the Company operated 1,659 stores in thirteen states under select banners, including Kangaroo Express®, its primary operating banner. The Pantry's stores offer a broad selection of merchandise, as well as gasoline and other ancillary services designed to appeal to the convenience needs of its customers.

With more than half of our stores located within 25 miles of a military installation, Kangaroo Express has supported the military and their families for many years. For example, Kangaroo Express sponsored the Indy 500 Centennial Tour of legendary Indy drivers visiting U.S. military bases in Europe and the Middle East and an aircraft carrier at sea. Kangaroo Express has also sponsored the annual American Widow Project / Kangaroo Express Golf Tournament for the past three years in support of the widows of fallen military. For more information about Kangaroo Express, please visit www.kangarooexpress.com. For more information about the Salute Our Troops campaign, please visit www.KESalute.com.

About PepsiCo

PepsiCo offers the world's largest portfolio of billion-dollar food and beverage brands, including 18 different product lines that each generate more than $1 billion in annual retail sales. Our main businesses - Frito-Lay, Quaker, Pepsi-Cola, Tropicana and Gatorade - also make hundreds of other nourishing, tasty foods and drinks that bring joy to our consumers in over 200 countries. With more than $43 billion in 2008 revenues, PepsiCo employs 198,000 people who are united by our unique commitment to sustainable growth, called Performance with Purpose. By dedicating ourselves to offering a broad array of choices for healthy, convenient and fun nourishment, reducing our environmental impact, and fostering a diverse and inclusive workplace culture, PepsiCo balances strong financial returns with giving back to our communities worldwide. For more information, please visit www.pepsico.com.

About the USO

The USO (United Service Organizations) lifts the spirits of America’s troops and their families millions of times each year at hundreds of places worldwide. We provide a touch of home through centers at airports and military bases, top quality entertainment and innovative programs and services. We also provide critical support to those who need us most, including forward-deployed troops and their families, wounded warriors and their families and the families of the fallen. The USO is a private, non-profit organization, not a government agency. We rely on the generosity of our volunteers and donors. In addition to individual donors and other corporate sponsors, the USO is supported by Worldwide Strategic Partners: American Airlines, AT&T Inc., BAE Systems, The Boeing Company, Clear Channel Communications, The Coca-Cola Company, Lockheed Martin, Microsoft Corporation, Northrop Grumman Corporation, Procter & Gamble and TriWest Healthcare Alliance. We are also supported through the United Way and Combined Federal Campaign (CFC-11381). To join us in this patriotic mission and to learn more about the USO, please visit www.uso.org.

About the Wounded Warrior Project

The mission of the Wounded Warrior Project™ (WWP) is to honor and empower wounded warriors. WWP’s purpose is to raise awareness and to enlist the public’s aid for the needs of injured service members, to help injured servicemen and women aid and assist each other, and to provide unique, direct programs and service to meet their needs. WWP is a national, nonpartisan organization headquartered in Jacksonville, FL. To get involved and learn more, visit woundedwarriorproject.org.

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